Students stage fuel hike protest

Students stage fuel hike protest

JAKARTA: Some 100 protesters grouped in the loose-knit student
alliance City Forum (Forkot), along with supporters of Ciputat
Students Communications Forum, staged a protest against the fuel
price hike in front of Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on
Saturday.

They made speeches, danced and performed street theater on an
open area of land on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara opposite the palace.
They also waved banners on which was written, "Seize corruptors'
money", "Reject the price hike" and "Reduce fuel prices".

Only about 30 policemen monitored the demonstration, which
caused heavy traffic congestion in nearby areas of Gambir and
Harmoni.

During their protest, the palace was hosting a ceremony to
which elementary and high school students had been invited.

The demonstration, however, continued until late into the
afternoon.--JP